Pennsylvania v. Illinois in the 2020s (cost, state, largest, compared)
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In terms of states, these two are the most similar in demographics, politics and economies on paper.
This year, Pennsylvania overtook Illinois in population and Pennsylvania is now the 5th largest state.
While Illinois, has Chicago. Pennsylvania has Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which IMO has more assets combined than Chicago alone.
Other than that, Illinois has no other recognizable city.
Criteria:
Economy
Education, K-12
Education, colleges and universities
Infrastructure (road conditions, public transit, bridges, water/energy sustainability/supply, etc.)
Housing (quality of architecture, selection of old and new, urban, suburban and rural, etc.)
Cost of living
Major cities
Suburbs
Small cities and rural areas
General state culture, events and activities
Cuisine
Outdoor recreation
Scenery
Climate
Geographic position (proximity to out-of-state opportunities and recreation; importance in surrounding region)
In terms of states, these two are the most similar in demographics, politics and economies on paper.
This year, Pennsylvania overtook Illinois in population and Pennsylvania is now the 5th largest state.
While Illinois, has Chicago. Pennsylvania has Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which IMO has more assets combined than Chicago alone.
Other than that, Illinois has no other recognizable city.
Criteria:
Economy
Education, K-12
Education, colleges and universities
Infrastructure (road conditions, public transit, bridges, water/energy sustainability/supply, etc.)
Housing (quality of architecture, selection of old and new, urban, suburban and rural, etc.)
Cost of living
Major cities
Suburbs
Small cities and rural areas
General state culture, events and activities
Cuisine
Outdoor recreation
Scenery
Climate
Geographic position (proximity to out-of-state opportunities and recreation; importance in surrounding region)
It seems you could even take out Pittsburgh and PA might still come out on top in this. I've never been outside of metro PGH but even as a kid I knew of Erie, Penn State, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and now the Lehigh Valley. The only IL place you hear about outside of Chicagoland is Peoria, often in the context of a joke. I did see a film about a famous author who lived in Bloomington-Normal.
Pittsburgh is, IMO, more scenic than any city outside of the west coast, and also more centrally located than Atlanta population-wise. PIT airport should be at least where MSP is in terms of traffic. Philly is obviously between NY and DC/BAL metros.
Economy: PA
Education, K-12: PA
Education, colleges and universities: PA
Infrastructure (road conditions, public transit, bridges, water/energy sustainability/supply, etc.): PA
Housing (quality of architecture, selection of old and new, urban, suburban and rural, etc.): PA
Cost of living:PA
Major cities: PA
Suburbs: PA
Small cities and rural areas: PA
General state culture, events and activities: PA
Cuisine: PA
Outdoor recreation: PA
Scenery: PA
Climate: PA
Geographic position (proximity to out-of-state opportunities and recreation; importance in surrounding region): PA
Pennsylvania all the way.
In my mind, Illinois offers very little outside of Chicago. Granted there are rolling hills and beautiful prairies and farms, and some historic cities and towns. But it is generic, as compared to Pennsylvania, outside of the Chicago metro.
Throw in Illinois' taxation issues and flirtation with potential bankruptcy on down the road, and it's no question.
Pennsylvania has beautiful rolling hills, classic cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (which I love both), and a nice 4 season climate with amazing history in its cities and towns.
In terms of states, these two are the most similar in demographics, politics and economies on paper.
The two states are NOT anywhere near similar in terms of politics. Illinois is heavily Democrat, and has a significant pension problem that is driving people out of the state.
PA is pretty much a toss up state (like Florida) politically nowadays, and doesn't have anywhere near the same financial problems Illinois has.
PA voted for Trump. The possibility of IL voting for Trump is about the same possibility as pigs flying.
This reads like an extremely loaded post. Obviously PA beats IL in scenery, politics, and COL. No reason to even debate those things. So why even ask opinions on those things? Sounds like you have your answer already.
JJBradley's post sums it up. PA wins on every front. So not really worth a thread. We all know the poll will end up with a 10:1 or 100:1 ratio of PA winning.
Last edited by CCrest182; 11-19-2019 at 08:02 PM..
PA is pretty much a toss up state (like Florida) politically nowadays, and doesn't have anywhere near the same financial problems Illinois has.
PA voted for Trump. The possibility of IL voting for Trump is about the same possibility as pigs flying.
Based on fundamental demographics, PA still leans Democratic (2016 is now largely seen as an aberration), but your point is still taken. Illinois is all but dominated by heavily Democratic Chicago influence, whereas PA has a lot more rural/urban balance.
Pennsylvania didn't "overtake" Illinois so much as people fled Pennsylvania at a slightly slower clip than they got the hell out of Illinois. "We Took the #5 Spot By Not Sucking As Much As Illinois!" isn't much of an endorsement for either state's future.
In all seriousness, even if the two states are closer in population, I think this will end up as more of a landslide. The general view of Illinois (be it true or not) is there isn’t too much of interest outside of Chicago. Georgia and Pennsylvania both have positive attributes outside their major metros.
Chicagoland dominates Illinois in population and as if a city in a State that really it is no match for.
History has northern Illinois was in Wisconsin's territory and the original boundary was to match with Indiana's border. That would have had Chicago In Wisconsin its playground state and more connected in some ways not political.
PA is much more less Philly dominated and they don't like it. More rural PA still has clot as does Pittsburgh have in many ways in a larger portion of the state in East- Central PA westward the divide begins that leans then Pittsburgh's way. Eastern PA has its Northeast lean toward NYC also. Leaving Southwest PA to Philly most.
Illinois had factions from its origin. That tried to vote gains tis portion that was Wisconsin territory that became Chicagoland too. They voted to succeed with no real power. That in fact was again recent too.... as factions wanted Chicagoland cast out of Illinois to be its own state. Just as it actually had Northern Illinois vote to succeed in the 1860s as it felt it did not belong in Illinois. The desire to cast out Chicagoland this time ..... had no vote as the original or power as that original one did. So neither is or was invalid without a act of the US Congress.
PA is much more diverse in topography also then Illinois. Just because two main cities in PA my state .... still do not match a state of IL with one bigger city metro of Chicagoland in power and state's populations. Doesn't mean they are similar in the least. They are not.
Last edited by DavePa; 11-19-2019 at 10:31 PM..
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